The Citizen, 2006-11-23, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2006.
Obituaries Tributes for
Const. David
Mounsey
Editor's Note: The staff of the Blyth Visitation Centre of the
Falconer Funeral Homes Ltd., along with the Ontario Provincial
Police and the family of OPP Const. David Mounsey did their utmost
to ensure that we had accurate details for visitation and the funeral
by our press time last week. However, as a result of additions and
minor changes, the tribute of OPP Const. Russ Nesbitt, the brother of
Mounsey's life partner Brenda Carey was inadvertently, and
regretfully, deleted from our story. We include his words now, along
with others who wished to share their memories and thoughts of
Const. Mounsey.
CONST.
DAVID
MOUNSEY
Provincial
Constable David Mounsey of Blyth
passed away at Clinton Public
Hospital as a result of injuries
sustained in the line of duty, on
Monday, Nov. 13, 2006. He was in
his 51st year.
David Mounsey was born on Oct.
4, 1956 in Yorkshire England.
He grew up in Yorkshire and
joined the British Royal Air Force
where he served for 14 years in the
Military Transport Division.
Dave immigrated to Canada in
1989 and began a career with the
Ministry of Community Safety and
Correctional Services as a
correctional officer. He worked at
the Burtch and Sprucedale
Correctional Facilities.
On April 24, 1998, Dave joined
the Ontario Provincial Police and
was posted to the Haldimand
Norfolk Detachment where he
remained until 2001, when he was
transferred to the Wingham
Detachment in the Huron County
Cluster.
During his career with the OPP,
Dave had a number of assignments
and specialized training. He was also
a member of the Western Region
Colour Party, proudly representing
the OPP and police officers at
'many ceremonies and public
functions.
Dave was a board member with
the Huron-Bruce Chapter of MADD
Canada. He also served on the Huron
County Child Abuse Prevention
Committee.
Dave was also a volunteer
firefighter with the Blyth and
District Fire Department.
Const. Mounsey was a
community-minded inspirational
person and was highly respected by
his fellow officers. He had a natural
ability to connect with people and
support and encourage them. Dave
had received numerous letters and
expressions of thanks and
appreciation from victims and other
community members. His presence
will be sorely missed:
On Oct. 14, Const. Mounsey was
responding to an incident, when he
was involved in a motor vehicle
collision and was severely injured.
Dave was the life partner of
Brenda Carey. He was the loving
father of Ryan Mounsey of Port
Dover and stepfather of Wyatt and
Dalton Carey of Blyth. He was the
dearly loved son of Shirley and
Colin Stanway of Blyth and dear
brother of John Mounsey of
England, stepbrother of Sharon and
Joanne and families of England.
Dave was predeceased by his
father Peter Mounsey.
Friends were received at the Blyth
Visitation Centre of the Falconer
Funeral Homes, 407 Queen St.,
Blyth on Wednesday from 7 - 9 p.m.
and on Thursday from 2 - 4 and 7 - 9
p.m.
The funeral service with full
police honours was held at the North
Huron Wescast Community
Complex, Wingham on Friday, Nov.
17 at 1 p.m.
Cremation to follow.
As expressions of sympathy
memorial donations to the Blyth and
District Fire Department would be
greatly appreciated.
HANK REININK
On Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006 the
Lord took to His eternal home, after
a courageous battle with cancer,
Hendrik Jan (Hank) Reinink of
Hullett Twp. He was in his 53rd year.
Hank was the beloved husband of
Shirley Reinink (Mennega). He was
the dear father of Cindy, Jackie,
Amanda and Aaron. He was the
beloved son of Wilma Reinink of
Clinton and the late Herm Reinink
(July 31, 2006). He was the dear
brother and brother-in-law of
Johanna and Herman Ramaker of
Clinton, John and Ann Reinink of
Auburn, Gieny and Esau Tiesma of
Bayfield, Reah Reinink of Clinton,
George and Lois Reinink of Blyth
and Clarence and Anne Marie
Mennega of Woodstock. Hank will
also be missed by many nieces and
nephews.
Friends were received at the
Falconer Funeral Homes Ltd.,
Clinton Chapel, 153 High St.,
Clinton on Tuesday, Nov. 21 from 2
- 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. The funeral service
was held at Clinton Christian
Reformed Church On Wednesday,
Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Jack
Quartel officiating.
Interment was in Clinton
Cemetery.
As expressions of sympathy, the
family would appreciate memorial
donations to the London District
Christian Secondary School.
Pallbearers were John and George
Reinink, Herman Ramaker, Esau
Tiesma, John Bylsma and Ralph
deWeerd.
VERN A. TAYLOR
(Verna Amelia McCutcheon -
Riddell Taylor)
April 6, 1907 - November 2, 2006
Vern Taylor was a woman who
always took life's curves in stride. In
her 99 years, she raised three
children, outlived two husbands, ran
her own business, survived two
major hurricanes, breast cancer and,
everything in between.
Vern passed away on Nov. 2, 2006
in her 100th year while residing at
Sunrise Assisted Living in
Montgomery, a suburb_of Cincinnati,
Ohio.
She grew up on her family's farm,
milking cows and doing chores. But
it was naming and loving the
animals that set her apart. At the age
of 18, she left the family farm and
went to business college in
Wingham, Ontario. She would
ultimately work in business until
retiring at age 65; something which,
as a woman, made her unique in her
day.
A strong work ethic and eternal
optimism always characterized the
woman who was born Vern Amelia
McCutcheon, on April 6, 1907, in
Brussels to parents William Henry
(Harry) McCutcheon and Annie
Spearin McCutcheon.
That drive helped her survive the
death of her first husband, Howard
Wallace Riddell, in 1952 and. raise
three young daughters while running
their company, Standard Soaps, Ltd.,
which manufactured industrial
soaps.
While raising her daughters in
Woodbridge, Ontario, Vern remained
a dedicated member of Christ
Church Anglican and the Burwick
Women'S Institute.
Vern sold Standard Soaps, Ltd., in
1956, and married British-born
Thomas (Tommy) Walter Taylor in
1959. That same year, Tommy, Vern
and their family moved to
Alexandria, Kentucky, near where
Tommy found work as a draftsman.
Vern joined the Hartford Insurance
Company in Cincinnati, where she
worked until 1972. While in
Alexandria, Tommy and Vern were
active members of All Saints Church
in Cold Spring, Ky.
One of Vern's great trademarks
was how much she enjoyed working
— probably because she loved being
around people. Her ability to
connect with others may have been
one secret to her disposition. She
was rarely, if ever, unhappy.
She also loved dancing (even in
her 90s) and was usually laughing.
In 1972, Vern and Tommy moved
to Vero Beach, Florida. They were
active, long-time members of their
church, Trinity Episcopal, and made
it a point to assist others.
They were a social couple who
loved playing cards with friends and
were members of many clubs,
especially Vero Beach's Hibiscus
Society.
In 1997, at the age of 90 and two
years after Tommy's death, Vern
travelled to Ireland with daughter
LoiTaine, son-in-law Jim and
granddaughter Jennifer to visit the
Motherland. It was a trip she enjoyed
thoroughly and recalled fondly to the
remaining days of her life.
At age 91, Vern moved to San
Rafael, California to live closer to
eldest daughter Marilyn. However,
Vern missed Vero Beach so much
that she returned there in 1998 to live
at the Isles of Vero, until being
displaced by Hurricane Frances in
2004. While at the Isles of Vero,
Vern met Hans Hammerle, who
became her constant companion
until his death in 2004.
After leaving the Isles, Vern
moved to Cincinnati (Sunrise
Assisted Living in Montgomery) to
be closer to daughter Lorraine and
her family. She remained there until
her death.
Vern is preceded in death 'by
daughter Sheila (James) Broadfoot;
first husband Howard Wallace
Riddell, second husband Thomas
Walter Taylor, brother Harry
McCutcheon, sisters Cora Barrows
and Laura Smith, and great-
grandson Paul James Mitchell.
Vern is survived by daughters
Marilyn (Richard) Riede of Ross,
California and Lorraine (James)
McCarthy of Cincinnati, Ohio. She
is also survived by grandchildren:
Daniel Bsoadfoot, Joanne (Paul)
Mitchell, Jamie (Anne) Broadfoot;
Michael McCarthy, Jeff McCarthy,
Jennifer (Josh) Pichler, Kelly
(Philip) Majure and Megan
Riede. and great-grandchildren
Jacob and Andrea Mitchell, Jayde
and Jewel Broadfoot, Madi and
Katie McCarthy, Anna and Fiona
Pichler; and Gage and Georgia
Majure.
She is also remembered by
countless other friends and relatives
in Canada, the, United States and
England.
Vern leaves a legacy of warmth,
optimism, strength 'and love of life.
Her kind, unwavering spirit will live
on in all who love her.
A service will be held at Trinity
Episcopal in Vero Beach on Jan. 13,
2007.
Vern's family asks that in place of
gifts, you can honour her life by
donating in her name to: Hospice of
Cincinnati, 4310 Cooper Road,
Cincinnati, OH 45242-8922,
#513/891-7700,
www.hospiceofcincinnati.org
"Dave will be remembered as a
person who loved and served his
community with the utmost pride in
his job. Dave was more than just a
police officer and a firefighter for the
Blyth community he loved so much.
Dave was a caring and loving father
to his son, Ryan, step-father to Wyatt
and Dalton, brother to John, son to
Colin and Shirley, life partner to
Brenda, a soccer coach, volunteer
and friend to many. Dave was loved
by all.
If you needed something done,
Dave would do it. Dave was a person
who did not wait for things to
happen, he made things happen.
Dave will be sadly missed."
OPP Coast. Russ Nesbitt,
Colleague and family member
"Dave Mounsey was an
ambassador for, not only the Blyth
firefighters and the town of Blyth,
but also for the Ontario Provincial
Police. It is not often that visitors
from other areas of the province,
Canada and the United States of
America, have received such a
positive view of these _essential
services.
Dave was the cheerful guy who
took time to talk to the campers and
aim: 0o take the children for a ride
through the campsite in a cruiser —
establishing that police officers are
helpful and do care about the public.
He asked permission to fundraise
for a new defibrilator for the fire
department and was so appreciative
of all donations given, never
realizing that it was his personality
which boosted the giving.
Seeing and hearing Dave talk
about his 'work mate' made us all
the more at ease when we needed
their aid in an emergency situation.
We have been blessed to know
such a caring and empathetic man. I
know that he will be greatly missed,
but I am also certain that his
generous spirit of giving will be
carried on by all who came into his
field of contact.
Thanks be to God for sharing
Dave Mounsey. May we also share
his gift to those around us."
Sylvia V. Powers,
Chairperson First Aid
Campvention 2006,
Vice-President
Ontario Provincial Association
Family Campers and RVers
"One could say 'He Came, He
Saw, He Conquered!' His smile and
outgoing personality were
infectious. This was the impact he
had on the members of the Family
Campers and RVers (FCRV). Const.
Mounsey, or as he would prefer,
Dave, was a personable outgoing
individual.
He demonstrated his serious side
and also a fun-loving side in the
short week that we got to know him.
The serious side was his dedication
to his occupations. Even in his OPP
responsibilities he found the time to
show the youth of FCRV that police
officers can be their friend, by giving
some a little ride in the cruiser and
showing how the sirens and lights
work. Our grandchildren have
pictures with Dave and he made a
big impression on them.
His dedication to his second job,
being a volunteer firefighter-
included his personal fundraising
efforts for a new defibrilator with a
marathon run in B.C.
All three of our grown daughters
had conversations with Dave, but his
personality left a big impact on our
middle daughter. She was assisting
the teen pageant and not in camp
when he did his fundraising so she
dropped off a donation at the OPP
detachment. Dave found the time to
come back to the campsite and
personally talk with my wife and I
about having a wonderful daughter
and to thank her for the donation.
Our youngest daughter, who was
co-chair for
security/communications, had much
in common with Dave. They both
wear the 'Peace Keepers' ring and
both had attended and participated in
the Peace Keepers Memorial in
Ottawa. Dave was intrigued that she
is a federal corrections parole officer
and a district representative for the
Special Olympics Torch Run.
When Dave returned to the
campout on Tuesday evening to
thank the FCRV membership for its
generosity, one could feel the
sincereness of his thank you and also
the friendship that had developed in
a short period of time.
Dave will remain in the memories
of FCRB and our family for a long
time."
Bill Henderson,
Campvention Co-Chair
Learn how to
talk to others
about their
smoking.
*smokers' HELPLI NE